The 76th Annual TONY Awards!- Page 19

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 10:19am

dramamama611 said: "This is no slight to Hayes (I've heard he is terrific, but not seen it) but in a category where the only white guy wins the award in an amazing pool of men of color is just cringey and I think it read on the faces of the other nominees. (Yes. in a perfect world this shouldn't matter.) I think Hayes was incredibly humble in his acceptance speech and gave kudos to those men appropriately so."

I didn't even think of the optics of it until I saw him literally the center square between four black men. Unintentional cringe! That said, I know it was a tight race between him and Henderson, and he gave a wonderful speech honoring them. 

Speaking of cringe, how unfortunate that the year they go without a script, they have Julianne Hough featured throughout. If it's one thing the Houghs need, is to be tethered to something so they're not drunk with power!

Otherwise, sorry but I really LOVED this scriptless Tonys. I didn't at all miss the bits and the banter that just eat up time. More time for performances and still end on time? Can't ask for more than that!

My biggest gripe was those stupid steps to the stage. What in the ADA-ignorant thought a tiny, rinky-dink staircase and then a step down would be a smart idea? Secondary gripe? Nobody seemed really sure where to look once they got onstage. That said, the rest of the set looked great in there, and accidentally happened to work for a more intimate, scriptless show.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 10:24am

Jonathan Cohen said: "Zeppie2022 said: ""This is no slight to Hayes (I've heard he is terrific, but not seen it) but in a category where the only white guy wins the award in an amazing pool of men of color is just cringey and I think it read on the faces of the other nominees. (Yes. in a perfect world this shouldn't matter.) I think Hayes was incredibly humble in his acceptance speech and gave kudos to those men appropriately so."

For sure the optics were terrible, and I don't know if race played a part in voting. But there's a voting splitting explanation that doesn't have anything to do with race.

Corey Hawkins and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II never had a chance at winning, because they were equally good in Topdog/Underdog and fans of the show couldn't vote for both. Meanwhile, Wendell Pierce and Stephen McKinley Henderson were both playing proud, down-on-their-luck older men. If that type of performance speaks to you more, the vote on that split too.

Sean Hayes was in his own lane, playing a mentally ill real person, in a role that gave him an opportunity to showcase a musical skill, most people didn't know he had."

This seems very very plausible.

 

[Listener]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 10:37am

Plus, he's a favorite from his past TV work, stretching some new muscles and doing something quite different.

The optics factor is silly in that so, so many people of color were front-and-center throughout the show, from the hostess and presenters to nominees and winners and then performers from the various shows.

I don't see how anyone could really say it "looked bad" for Sean to win because he's white. Your breakdown, Jonathan, further illustrates why he may have emerged the winner.

I do agree the men who lost the award looked quite peeved, however.

Updated On: 6/12/23 at 10:37 AM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 10:38am

fashionguru_23 said: "Since when is Sweeney Todd a dance show?! Yikes."

It isn’t. That’s called choreography, and it’s different from “dancing”. Many productions of Sweeney incorporate choreographed movement. This just happens to be one that’s on Broadway.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 10:42am

To me, the Sweeney stuff - at times - looked closer to dance than to choreography in a “Come From Away” internal intensity sense. And those dance-esque moments colored the whole to my eyes, and made it all look really wrong. 

Updated On: 6/12/23 at 10:42 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:00am

JasonC3 said: "Sean Hayes was in his own lane, playing a mentally ill real person, in a role that gave him an opportunity to showcase a musical skill, most people didn't know he had."

This seems very very plausible."

Yes –– never underestimate the power of "famous person does a skillpiece performance and shows different shades of their talent." There's also the recency element: it was the only spring show. And Hayes went to every party and shook every hand and kissed every baby, and that does count for something.

On the subject of recency: This is the first time since 2017 that all 8 acting winners are still playing in shows that are running (for the next 3 weeks).

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:19am

Very clear that the United Palace was not equipped to host an event on this scale. It looked nice enough on TV, but what a mess. Hope the Tonys will be getting a partial refund for the air conditioning problem, front of house problems, and bar problems! And fingers crossed that next year returns to Radio City.

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/tony-awards-what-you-didnt-see-on-tv-2-1235640596/

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:23am

ColorTheHours048 said: "fashionguru_23 said: "Since when is Sweeney Todd a dance show?! Yikes."

It isn’t. That’s called choreography, and it’s different from “dancing”. Many productions of Sweeney incorporate choreographed movement. This just happens to be one that’s on Broadway."

Is that you, Steven Hoggett?

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:38am

Fair review by Hollywood Reporter.  https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/2023-tonys-review-ariana-debose-broadway-theater-1235512974/amp/

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:53am

I really enjoyed the Tony’s this year and didn’t miss the scripted back and forth banter. It was really well done and everyone involved should be very proud of themselves! Congrats to everyone!

[Kad]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 12:00pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Very clear that the United Palace was not equipped to host an event on this scale. It looked nice enough on TV, but what a mess. Hope the Tonys will be getting a partial refund for the air conditioning problem, front of house problems, and bar problems! And fingers crossed that next year returns to Radio City.

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/tony-awards-what-you-didnt-see-on-tv-2-1235640596/"

I'm surprised this didn't mention that the press room for the winners to go to after claiming their awards was several blocks away (I had heard 10, but am unsure if that's accurate because that would be quite a distance).

Updated On: 6/12/23 at 12:00 PM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 12:18pm

Did any of the WGA members actually choose not to attend?  David Lindsay-Abaire was definitely there to accept his awards and Annaleigh Ashford was in the audience despite not performing.  I wasn't paying close enough attention to see if the other book nominees were actually there or had someone else attending in their stead.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 12:23pm

Listener said: "Plus, he's a favorite from his past TV work, stretching some new muscles and doing something quite different.

The optics factor is silly in that so, so many people of color were front-and-center throughout the show, from the hostess and presenters to nominees and winners and then performers from the various shows.

I don't see how anyone could really say it "looked bad" for Sean to win because he's white. Your breakdown, Jonathan, further illustrates why he may have emerged the winner.

I do agree the men who lost the award looked quite peeved, however."

Ok, so I was not the only person who noticed the looks on their faces. 

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 12:40pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Awards-Draw-342-Million-Viewers-11-Decrease-From-Last-Year-20230612

3.42 million viewers this year (3.86 million last year).

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 12:45pm

The optics factor is silly in that so, so many people of color were front-and-center throughout the show, from the hostess and presenters to nominees and winners and then performers from the various shows.

Yes, there was plenty of diversity among the presenters, nominees and performers. But, the winners were overwhelmingly white overall. So, nope, it's not "silly" nor are we imagining facts. 

 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 12:51pm

Great Tonys this year. Loved the speeches, loved most of the performances. My biggest takeaway was that the shows all looked great on camera. Didn't feel swallowed by the GIGANTIC Radio City. Actually felt like they were at home onstage. Made a huge difference in enjoying the numbers.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 1:38pm

So now individual voters have to be careful to vote for a particular race or not? WTFFFFFF?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 1:42pm

The race talk is very very silly. The winner is chosen by getting the most votes. No one should vote with optics/race in mind. That’s just setting up a whole can of worms. 2 of the biggest wins went to POC Non-Binary performers. 
 

I also loved seeing LaChanze constantly mentioned as a producer! 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 1:48pm

"I didnt say the voting was racially motivated...I said it was cringey and just looks bad. I didn't say Hayes was unworthy. 

You people seriously need reading comprehension. "

I think our reading comprehension is fine. First, you brought race up in regard to somebody winning a Tony. Cringey means something is "very embarrassing" and begs the question why you feel this way especially since you said Hayes was worthy. There were plenty of POC that performed last night and got nominations, there were two POC that won a Tony. In addition, the host was a POC who did wonderful job. Five white men (lead actor) lost to J Harrison Glee and four of them were a hell of a lot more famous, was that cringey? Ok, time to get back to discussing a very good night IMO for Broadway.

[Markie27]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 1:58pm

I don’t know if this was mentioned before but is this the first time that all male performance categories went to LGBTQ?  I thought this being the theater that this happens quite a lot but I went as far back as 40 years ago and not one year that LGBTQ people dominated the male performances categories.  I am not familiar with the sexuality of actors before the 80’s so I couldn’t confirm beyond the 36th.  Anybody know?  

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 2:14pm

Kad said: "I'm surprised this didn't mention that the press room for the winners to go to after claiming their awards was several blocks away (I had heard 10, but am unsure if that's accurate because that would be quite a distance)."

The press room at the Beacon was also offsite at the JCC, but that was just a quick car ride around the corner.

Where on earth did they have the press room this year? The Armory Athletic Center on 169th (which was also a vax location)?

Updated On: 6/12/23 at 02:14 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 2:25pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Awards-Draw-342-Million-Viewers-11-Decrease-From-Last-Year-20230612

3.42 million viewers this year (3.86 million last year)."

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/tony-awards-ratings-viewers-1235641114/

4.3 million, highest since 2019

 

[David10086]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 2:26pm

I DVRd it since I wasn’t home last night to watch. I watched it today. I must say, this was one of the best awards show I have ever seen. It was nice not to have all the scripted chatter and banter and failed jokes from the presenters. It moved rapidly and was entertaining! Everyone looked beautiful there.  Let’s hope the Grammys, Emmys and Oscars take note of this production and try to emulate this. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 2:28pm

What a great night......amazing show. 

Who will get the biggest box office bump?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/12/23 at 2:34pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Awards-Draw-342-Million-Viewers-11-Decrease-From-Last-Year-20230612

3.42 million viewers this year (3.86 million last year)."

 

That's actually incorrect -- ratings were up from last year. but we would expect nothing less from Mr. "The Sky Is Falling/Gloom and Doom/People will NEVER return to Broadway!!"

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/tony-awards-ratings-viewers-1235641114/

4.3 million, highest since 2019

At least you're consistent.

Updated On: 6/12/23 at 02:34 PM